Canada Reaches Border Deal with China That Would Hasten Deportations

A fresh border agreement between Canada and China would speed up the deportation of Chinese nationals found to be inadmissible in Canada, according to a Canadian government spokesman.

Reuters reports that the deal will allow Chinese officials to travel to Canada to verify the identities and documents of citizens who are not permitted into Canada because of criminal records, serious health issues or falsified information on visa applications.

Scott Bardsley, a press secretary for Canada’s Public Safety Minister, said the new agreement — a one-year pilot program — would not immediately go into effect, but will be discussed again in November.

China already has a similar accord with the E.U.

The border deal was part of a package of law-enforcement agreements penned between the two countries during last week’s visit to Canada by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

The two countries have strengthened trade and diplomatic ties since Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected last year. He has attempted to warm the chilly relations maintained by his Conservative predecessors.

China and Canada are also mulling an extradition treaty that would make it easier for China to recall what it says are former Chinese officials in Canada who have been accused of corruption. Rights advocates oppose the treaty because of questions over the fairness of China’s judiciary.